D-Day had finally come around, the general had given her speech and everyone was lined up on the field of grass behind the HQ, waiting for teleportation. I was standing off to the side with Arwan and Victor, who seemed to be on better terms now.
The two were currently huddled behind me, whispering something between themselves. I was curious, but decided that I shouldn't butt in. Right before we teleported I turned around and tapped both of them on the shoulder, they flinched and turned around but I just gave them a gentle smile before pointing to the mages that were in charge of teleportation.
Both of them were sporting an "oooooh" expression, i just chuckled and turned back around. I sighed then braced myself for teleportation, and the next thing I knew, i was standing in a fiery field with patches of, what at least seemed to be, foxgloves.
Each individual patch had foxgloves that appeared to be lit on fire, but not dead. Instead they were a mesmerizing fiery red, they looked like they had spots on them that were burning, but walking closer I saw that they were instead a star like pattern on it.
"Stop, don't move any closer to those things," Conlaed had said to me, after grabbing my shoulder and pulling me away, "They're poisonous, one sniff of they're pollen and you'll be affected by a slow acting poison that'll give you rashes all over."
"What?! Seriously?" I asked and he nodded, "Such a shame, they are really pretty too."
"My Lord, they may be pretty but they're one of the most deadliest flowers on this planet, the rashes they give you will be there for days, giving you excruciating pain, until eventually, you're skin starts to fall off….you can only imagine what happens after that," Victor lectured, walking over to me to hand me a potion.
"Wait…And this is the failed were fighting in?!" I shouted quietly, in shock of the location they chose as they're "Final battle."
"Yup, but luckily the mage brigade came up with these potions that will make us immune to they're poison for a couple of hours," Conlaed explained, pointing to the potion Victor gave me, "I think its best you drink that now, considering how close you got, and since everyone else is taking there's now as well."
"Um, alright," I said before taking a look around to see every one else doing the same, except for one person, "But wait, what about Arwan, he doesn't have one does he?"
"Ah…I appreciate the concern My Liege, however, I am immune to all kinds of poison, especially poisons coming from flowers and other plants," Arwan explained with a gentle smile on his face.
"Oh, well thats pretty useful, i suppose i have en excellent poison detector to see if my food is poisoned or not, heh," I chuckled with a sly grin on my face, before opening my potion and drinking it, "Relax, i'm just pulling your leg."
I then pat Arwan on the shoulder before walking past him, behind me i heard Victor laugh, until Arwan told him to, and i repeat, "Shut your bloody pie hole before i melt it off," which i must say, didn't expect to hear something like that from Arwan, but it sure did shut Victor up.
"Pardon me general," i said, walking up to her and Frederick, "when would you like Arwan to transform back into his dragon form?"
"Oh, hello Lit. Colonel! Now would be fine, i was just about to tell everyone to start they're march, however i think its best if Arwan unleashes some of his aura while in his dragon form first, it'll give the enemy a real scare," Vendetta said with a cheeky smile on her face.
"Heh, i thought the same," I smiled back, but more maliciously, "I'll go tell him now, oh and if you see Conlaed, Victor, and I randomly start to fall from the sky just know its us taking our turn."
"HAHAHA! Alright, i suppose i'll just have to enjoy the show huh!" She joked back, with a big smile on her face.
I smiled back and waved at her, before going back to the peanut gallery that made up my unit. Conlaed was eating popcorn that he got from…who knows where, while he was watching Victor and Arwan bicker, probably about how Arwan told him to shut up.
"Enjoying the show, aren't you?" I bent down and whispered into Conlaeds ear, which made him shiver, then i pat him on the back, "Meh, i don't really care, its go time anyways."
He quickly got to his feet, "Finally, the anticipation was killing me!" Conlaed joked, throwing his popcorn away and hitting his fists together with a smile.
"Hey, tweedledee and tweedledum, its starting time, so quit your bickering and prepare yourselves, and Arwan, turn into your dragon form now, oh and unleash some of your aura, and when you do so, we wanna give the enemy a little scare," I jested, smiling with my teeth showing.
"Haaaa, Understood Your Grace," Victor said back, throwing his hands in the air as if he were surrendering to his opponent.
"Excuse me?" I said, raising an eyebrow and glaring at him. Victor immediately put his hands down and behind his back, before wearing a straight face.
"Um, My Liege, just how much exactly do you want me to unleash?" Arwan asked, tapping me and tilting his head at me like a lost puppy.
'Trying to act cute huh?'
"Hm, just enough for the enemies entire force over there to feel, oh, and make sure only they get affected by it, it'd be a real hassle if any of ours were to freeze up," I respond, giving him an apologetic smile, but with a bit of condescension on my face.
"Understood, i'll try my best to fulfill your order," He assured me, before being engulfed in a bright light.
Once the light surrounding him was gone, standing in his place was a large black dragon with red on his under-wings, and talons that was fiery red, but appeared to have a sort of bone gauntlets on each, he also had bones on his neck going onto his shoulders, then what i presumed his shoulder blades, making it look like a necklace. He had a ring-like piece of jewelry on his left horn, with large rubies on it.
"Ahem, I'll start now," Arwan said, opening his wings then fluttering them closed, as if they were a cape fluttering in the wind, It was honestly kind of cool, and gave a majestic air to him.
I could feel him release his aura, but i didn't feel it affect me, instead a nice warms feeling washed over me. I looked at the rest of the army to see if they were alright, and luckily they seemed fine, then i glanced over at Victor and Conlaed. Conlaed, was cracking his knuckles, and Victor had his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"Hmm, okay, Arwan could you bend over so that the three of us could cimb on?" I requested, and saw Arwan shake his wings like how a dog shakes its body to dry off.
"Mm, alright," He grumbled before doing a bow like action, then i climbed and his back first and helped Conlaed and Victor up as well, i snuck a glance at Arwans face, he was glaring at Victor, which i've gotten used to see him doing, especially if he's riding on his back.
"Are you four ready!?" Vendetta yelled over, too which i nodded, "Well then everyone, time to move out!"
She gave the command and everyone cheered before starting their march, while Arwan jumped into the air and started circling them. I lost my balance for a second but Victor grabbed a hold of me after i grabbed into one of Arwans scales.
"Is everyone okay?" Arwan questioned, perhaps feeling me start to fall off.
"Yes, just lost my balance for a second! Anyways were good, could you start to fly towards Peril's troops?" I said, assuring him of my safety, and the others', but i doubt he cared.
"Alright, hold on tight!" He said before flapping his wings and flying in the direction of the enemies base.
"Are you alright M'Lord?" Victor asked, his arms around my waist to keep both himself and me steady.
"Yes, thank you for catching me. Conlaed, is everything alright over there? Catch any flies yet?" I thanked Victor then shouted back towards Conlaed, teasing him.
"Haha, very funny, but yes i am alright, and no flies caught, well yet at least," He responded, he was leaning back, a few steps away from Victor and I, who were in between Arwans shoulder blades.
"If you say so," I sang back, before turning my head towards Victor, "Are you okay as well? Your hugging me rather tight."
"My apologies, i'm just not the best with heights, please pardon my rudeness," He cleared up, but hugging me tighter and looking down, but i could see his bright red ears.
"Pfft, it's alright, we all have our fears and flaws, even i used to be afraid if heights," I tried to assure him, and letting him know that it was okay.
'Lev is lucky he has such a cute butler, too bad he isn't my type tho, i'm not into exploiting my employees.'
"You were?" He asked me, and i nodded, "How did you over come your fear of them?"
"Well I went cliff jumping, a few turns of that and they were erased completely," I admitted, laughing a bit to try and ease him. (don't try that at home kids)
"Pardon my impertinence, but what exactly is "cliff jumping?" He asked, looking me in the eyes and tiling his head.
'Ugh, too cute.' my internal conscientious was saying.
"Well, uh…mmm, how to put this lightly…it's where you or a group of people jump off of a tall cliff into water below, its actually quite fun," I said with a nervous smile.
"...Your Grace, you didn't risk your life to that simply to get over your fear did you?" Victor asked, giving me a stare of 'if you want to remain unharmed you better answer all of my questions.'
I gulped, "Actually an older friend of mine just told me to get my bathing suit on and brought me there, then the next thing i knew i was standing at the edge of a cliff staring down at the water below, then he pushed me off and jumped behind me," I answered honestly, worried he would ask me when i did that.
"Excuse my language here, but that "friend" of yours sounds like a real dick head," Victor replied with anger in his voice.
"Meh, it's whatever, its in the past anyways," I shrugged it off with a smile before looking into the scenery in front of myself, starting to zone out.
'Not that i've started to think about that i feel a little nostalgic.'
***
Thinking back, it was toward the end of high school, three of my friends came over to my house early in the morning while My parents and i were asleep. I woke up that morning to a nudging motion and hushed voices, and opened my eyes, only to see the three of them standing over my bed.
"Ugh…Who…HUH!? You guys? What are you do- mmph!" I shouted in shock, but my mouth was quickly covered up by one of their hands.
"Shhh," the eldest motioned with his finger to his mouth, "Your going to wake your parents up if your that loud!"
"Ugh," I swatted his hand away from my mouth and sat up on the edge of my bed, "I'm not exactly surprised that the two of you are here, but Keiji!? You too!?"
"Heheh, sorry Saito, they kind of bribed me here," Keiji said shamelessly, rubbing the back of his head, shrugging.
"Oh, so your taking bribes now!?" i said with sas in my voice, obviously annoyed at the sight in front of me.
Keiji had his black hair slicked back like usual, and his deep blue eyes were as visible as ever, even in the dark, he was wearing a flannel shirt and swin trunks, as well as flip flops, he was also carrying a plastic bag with water shoes in it.
"...Please tell me i'm halucinating…" I mumbles to myself, realizing the reason the three of them barged into my house, "Are you guys fucking serious!?"
"Sorry Saito-San, we thought it would be more fun if you joined us, rather than going ourselves…hehe…" the guy on Keijis left said.
"So i presume that you were the one who came up with this idea then? Huh, Yasuo?" I said, looking over at him with an eye brow twitching.
Yasuo had straight jet-black hair that was cut in a sort of curtain mullet, he had gray eyes, and was wearing an outfit similar to Keijis. He was about an inch shorter than Keiji and i, but the same height as Akihito, the guy on Keijis right.
"I- No it wasn't me, it was Akihito like always, so if your going to be mad at anyone be mad at him!" Yasuo blurted out, trying to get me to pit all of my anger on Akihito.
"Uh- Excuse me!? Don't try to shift all of the blame onto me, you're at just as much fault as i am, and you were the one to come up with the bribe for Keiji-San!" Akihito blurted back.
"Yeah, because we all know your to dumb to make shit like that up!" Yasuo shouted back.
"AHEM!" Keiji cleared his throat loud enough for only us to hear, "I'm really sorry about this Saito, but we all thought it would be fun to try cliff jumping over at that cliff that looms over into the water, and thought it'd be better to join us."
"Its because i'm the only reasonable one here isn't it?" i asked and they all nodded, "Dear lord you guys are such dumb asses, i'll go with you guys but only to make sure one if you don't get killed."
"YAY! Okay grab your swimming suit, flip flops and water shoes and lets go!" Akihito said running out the door.
"Ugh, just give me a moment, but i'm not jumping off!"
***
"Hm, this is pretty high, are you guys sure this is safe?!" I yelled over to them, the three idiots were about five feet behind me.
"Yup! Perrrrfectly safe!" Akihito yelled back with a big toothy grin.
'Hearing that from him just makes me even more worried, haaaa i suppose the most i can do is check the drop height when i get up there,' i remember thinking.
I was the first to get up to the spot they planned to jump off at, then i went over to the edge and look off to see how high it was.
'Ugh, that makes me nauseous, so glad i'm not the one jumping off.'
"Hey, you guys sure you want to-" I started to say before seeing Yasuo racing towards me, " WAIT! SLOW DOWN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"
I yelled that before he tackled me and we started to fall, i remember him telling me to hold my breath if i didn't want to die, and the next thing i knew, i was under water with Yasuo next to me.